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Personal Observa-clons and. Experiences Relating to 

William Jennings Bryan 

By Gr Ei- Condra, Dean and State Geologist 

UniversiLy of Nebraska 

Relatives and friends of zhe Great Commoner, You are 
gathered to commemorate the life work of Nebraska's most dis- 
tinguished citizen for whom untold thousands of people hold con- 
tinued appreciation, gratitude, and love. Although our friend 
and benefactor has passed, life's cycle, zne heritages we received 
from him remain as high lights in our lives and in the lives of 
many otners. 

Most of you know the history of William Jennings Bryan, 
You are conversant with his parentage, his education, his family, 
his charanter, his religion, his charity, and his ability and 
success as attorney, editor, author, speaker, public official, 
and reformer. Most of these phases of his life have been ably and 
rightly described, and are of record. 

I knew Mr. Bryan, but not intimately, for thirty-two 
years. I read his editorials and other writings and listened to 
many of his public addresses, and always with personal benefit. 
Travels in Nebraska and elsewhere brought me face to face with 
thousands of his admirers and friends, and afforded an opportunity 
to learn the attitude that many people held towards Mr. Bryan, 
Our daugnter, Cordelia, was for two years connected with a Chautauqua 
organization before which Mr. Bryan spoke at many j^laces. She gave 
me a vivid account of Mr. Bryan's unusual ability as a public speaker. 



^ ^VP^^VP Page 2. 

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K 
, However, ray best conracts with Mr. Bryan were at tne Conference 

■^of Governors held at Washington in 1908 and at the large National 

^. 

"•Conservation Congresses held at Vvashington, Seattle, Kansas City 

4^ and other large cities. Consequently, with your permission, let 

^ roe review some observations and experiences relating to Mr. Bryan's 

ability and success as an orator, conservationist and reformer. 



Travel experiences 

In hundreds of places, as at hotels when registering, or 
at filling stations, have I heard the expression: "You are from 
Bryan's town." The people asked about the man and my acquaintance 
with him. No doubt many other Nebreskajis had this same experience 
and you should know that for many years Mr. Bryan was the best 
known citizen of our country and was Nebraska's best publicity. 

Chautauqua and other addresses 

Mr. Bryan, in his day, spoke to more people than any 
other man. He was the big attraction at colleges, universities, 
and chautauquas and at many kinds of public gatherings. The 
people came to hear him; they sat or stood as in a trance. My 
daughter put it in right form when she said that, in her opinion, 
Mr. Bryan had some abilities not fo:nd in other men and that his 
oratorical technique surpassed that of any other person in the 
United States. 

Mr. Bryan was well endov/ed both physically and mentally. 
His english and rhetoric were nearly perfect; his voice was clear. 



Page 3. 



soft and pieasanc and his manner was natural, friendly and convinc- 
ing. His speeches were well organized. They were supported by 
personal conviction and a strong desire to contribute to the solution 
of social and political problems. Although Mr. Eryan was known as 
the "Silver-tongued Orator" and the "Great Commoner," we should not 
overlook the fact that back of nis spoken language and pbblic ser- 
vice was a well-trained and purposeful mind filled with the desire 
to serve the public. 

Conference of Governors 



The Conference of Governors and representative men of the 
several states was called by President Tneodore Roosevelt to meet 
at Washington, D. C, May 13 and 14, 1908, to disauss the national 
resources and their conservation. Victor Rosewater, E. A. Burnett 
and G. E. Condra were the delegates from Nebraska. William J. 
Bryan was a leading speaker of the conference. The following ex- 
cerpts from the records are given here to show the character of the 
Bryan address made at this Conference and how it was received. Mr. 
Bryan said: 

"I acknowlet^e my obligation to President Roosevelt for the 
opportunity which he has given me to participate in this meeting. 
The Conference marks the beginning of a new era, during which in- 
creasing attention will be given to the far-reaching problems in- 
volved in the conservation of the Nation's resources. The epoch- 
making speech with which the chief executive opened the First 
Session must exert a powerful influence upon the country at large, 
as it has upon those who were fortunate enough to hear him." 



Page 4. 

Cooperation * "The assembling of the Gorernors of nearly all the 
forty-six States is in itself an historic event of the first magni- 
tude, for this meeting, and. the future meetings which this one 
assures, wixl facilitate cooperation between the States, make easier 
the doing of thfcse things which should be done by the national 
(fovernment, and stimulate the several States to act more speedily 
and with best information upon the things which should be done by the 
States independently. There has been some difference of opinion as 
to the relative spheres of the Nation and the States, but such dis- 
cussions as we have here will help to define these spheres and to 
harmonize conflicting opinions." 

"I am a strict constructionist, if that means to believe 
that the Federal Government is one of delegated powers and that con- 
stitutional limitations should be carefully observed. I am jealous 
of any encroachment upon the rights of the State, believing that 
the States are as indestructible as the Union is Indissoluble. It 
is, nowever, entirely consistent with this theory to beiieve, as I 
do believe, that it is just as imperfetive that the general Govern- 
ment shall discharge the duties delegated to it, as it is that the 
States shall exercise the power reserved to them. There is no twi - 
light zone between the National and the States, in which exploiting 
interests can take refuge from both . (Great applause). 

Irrigation . "Irrigation has justified the arguments which led to 
the inauguration of the work. No one who has witnessed the trans- 
formation of the desert into field and garden can doubt the wisdom 
of the steps that have been taken. Here, as elsewhere, both the 
Natior>fend the State can find a field for legitimate activity; and I 



Page 5. 

am sure that there will be a continuation of this work until all 
the waters which can be utilized for that purpose have been appro- 
priated." 

The Forest . No suDject has been brought out more prominently at 
this Conference than the subject of forestry, and it justified the 
tine devoted to it; for cur timber lands touch ournational interests 
at several points. Our use of Ixomber is enormo s , but immense as 
would be the Inconvenience and loss caused by the absence of lumber, 
the consequence of the destruction of our forests would be still 
more disastrous to the Nation. As has been shown, tne timber on 
our mountain ranges protects our water supply. Not to speak of 
changes in climate which mit^ht follow the denuding of our mountains, 
the loss to the irrigated country could not be remedied, and the 
damage to the streams could not be calculated. And if this is not 
enough to arouse the interest of all, I may add that the destruction 
of the forests en tne mountain ranges would in time impaid the under- 
flow upon which we rely for our well water." 

Permanent Improvement . "Just a word in conclusion about an invest- 
ment in permanent improvements. Money spent in case for the life 
and health of the People, in protecting the soil from erosion and 
from exhaustion, in preventing waste in the use of minerals of 
limited supply, in the reclamation of deserts and of swamps, in the 
preservation of forests still remaining, and in tne replanting of 
denuded tracts — money invested in these and in the development of 
waterways and in the deepening of harbors is an investment yielding 
an annual return. If any of these expenditures fail to bring a re- 



Page 6. 

turn at once the money expended is like a bequest to those who come 
after. And, as the parent lives for his children as well as for 
himself, so the citizen provides for the future as well as for the 
present." 

Prophesy . "This gathering will be remembered by future generations, 
because they as well as ourselves will be the recipients of the bene- 
fits which will flow from this Conference. We have all been strenth- 
ened by communion together; our vision has been enlarged, and the 
enthusiasm here aroused will permeate every State and every community." 

National Conservation Congress . 

This Congress was organized at Washington in 1909. Mr. 
Bryan had a connection with all sessions of the Congress which were 
held In various cities of the United States, and a very prominent 
part in the sessions at Washington and Kansas City. 

President Taft and Mr. Bryan were the leading speakers 
at the Congress held at Kansas City, September 2b, 26, and 27 of 1911. 
Mr. Taft spoke on the 25th and Mr. Bryan on the 27th. The contract 
between the talks of these men was markedly In favor of Mr. Bryanl. 

On the second day of the Congress a rumor reached the 
delegates from some source that Mr. Bryan woijid not appear before 
the Congress. However, this rumor was corrected by a wire received 
from Mr. Bryan, which stated that he would arrive in time to deliver 
and address at the time scheduled in the program. This announcement 
brought applause and cheers from the delegates. Then, when Mr. 
Bryan did appear In the auditoriiim ahead of time, the convention 
broke out with loud applause and cheers, but Mr. Bryan refused to 



Page 7. 

make his address until later, but did make a few timely remarks, 
which were appreciated. 

On the evening of September 27, President J. B. White 
introduced Mr. Jiiryan, saying: "Ladied and gentlemen. I now take 
pleasure in presenting to you an American citizen who in all this 
broad land requires tio introduction." (Applause). Following are 
excerpts from Mr. Bryan's address made at the National Conservation 
Congress held at Kansas City in 1911. 

Landlord System. "One who has not visited the Old World cannot 
understand the landlord system there. If you ask me what I regard 
as t!he greatest burden of the people of Europe I reply "Landlordism." 
(Applause.) In some of those countries the people are so situated 
that those who till the soil transmit from generation to generation 
the right to pay rent, with no possibility of ownership; while a 
few families transmit from child to child the right to collect rent, 
wlith no disposition to till the soil. I re£,ard that as the greatest 
burden of li-anope , and one of the blessings that we enjoy in this 
country is freedom from such landlordism as they have in the Old 
Iftorld. I know of nothing that nearer approaches the sy^Jtem of 
landlordism in Europe than the proposed giving away of these moun- 
tain streams in perpetuity to great syndicates that through the years 
and generations to come could exact their toll from a tolling people. 
Therefore, when we consider the use of these mountain streams, the 
first thing we must decide is that there shall be no perpetual grant 
to a water power." 



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Soil Waste . "What right has one to impoverish the soil? As was 
suggested today, v/e are not owners, we are merely tenants. The 
life of the individual is short. He ilv.s, he works, he passes 
away. What right has the tenant of today to impoverish the es- 
tate upon which generations to come must live? Is it not worth 
while to have these experts tell us? Is it not worth while to 
have this fact impressed upon our minds and our consciences?" 

Dignity of Labor . But, my friends, I have aaved for the last the 
suggestion that I regard as most important. I believe there is 
one things that we cannot neglect. I am not sure but it is the 
most important factor in this whole discussion, the great need of 
the human race, less in this country than in any other, but a need 
here as well, is a proper conception of the dignity of labor. The 
struggle of mankind has been to avoid work. It has been to put 
the drudgery of life on somebody else, Tolstoy has well said that 
as soon as we can make somebody else do the unpleasant work we do 
not want to do, we then look down upon them and regard them as of 
a different class. Lack of sympathy is the chief cause of human 
injustice and human misery. Our education is at fault if it separ- 
ates the idea of intellectual progress from the idea of moral 
advancement. Sometimes our children are taught that they should 
get an education in order that they may escape from work that seems 
unpleasant. Education will not be a blessing to the world, but 
Instead a curse, if if lifts man above the willingness to toll. 
(Applause ) . 

"I believe that we shall only be doing our duty to our- 
selves, to our fellow man, to our country and to posterity when we 



?R^e 9. 



emphasize the fact that It is the idler, and not the man who toils, 
who is a dis£-race to society." 

Man and Society . "I present, therefore, as the most important 
thing that the conservaticn movement can consider, the raising up 
of an ideal of life that will give a man a proper conception of 
his relation to society. ViTiere better than on the farm can a man 
learn God's law? What is the Divine law of reward? God wrote it 
upon the face of the earth; He proclaimed it from the clouds; He 
burns It into us through the rays of the sun, namely, that God 
has given us tne material and that in proportion as man shows in- 
dustry and intelligence in converting natural resources into usable 
wealth he can rightfully draw from the common store of the world. 
That is God's law of rewards." 

Personal. "I am here because I am a debtor to society. Who in all 
tnls land has been placed under greater obligations than I? Who 
is more bound in duty to contribute as best he can to any improvement 
that is possible? This Is one of the great avenues of effort; one 
of the great reform movements. It enlarges as you consider it. I 
am here to testify to my int-^rest; I am here to listen to those who 
speak that I may gather from their matured thought ideas tnat I can 
put into use. My part is an humble part; it is not to discuss any 
question at length; it is not to speak as an expert upon any branch 
of conservation; It is rather to emphasize, so far as I can, the 
work that others have done--to show yha how large it is, to increase 
your interest in it, to quicken your zeal, and to have you go from 



Pae,e 10. 

here determined, as I go determined, tc contribute more largely 

than in tne past, not onxy to tnis, but to every movement that 

has for its object the elevation of the human rafc'e and che advance- 
ment of the civilization of the world." 

Ladies and gentlemen, the Bryan addresses made at Washing- 
ton and Kansas City were delivered informally wi tnout the use of 
notes or manuscript. 'J-'ne excerpts just read were taken from the 
typed shorthand copy of the convention report, i.e., from the manu- 
script which was not read by Mr. Bryan. ■'•'here fore, I believe that 
if you scrutinized the excerjjts read above closely and criticially, 
you are now forced to conclude that Mr. Bryan was an exceptional man 
not alon^in the use of good english and In the art of public speak- 
ing, but he w. s also conversant with the basic principles of conser- 
vation and was a reformer of the first order. Personally, I know 
that Mr. Bryan contributed much to the establishment of the conser- 
vation activities in the United States, and tnat his prophesies re- 
lating to conservation are coming true. 

Friend of Tolatoj 

About half way around the world from Nebraska lived 
Leo Tolstoy, the great Kuasian author, who was a close friend and 
admirer of William Jennings Bryan. He was born in 1828 on an 
estate located near Kosnaira Polyana, about 150 miles soutneast 
of Moscow and died in 19l0, 

In 1908, Mr. Toistoy wrote regarding Mr. Bryan as follows: 



Page 11. 

"Mr. Bryan — I greatly appreciate and sympathize with, 
and know tJie basis of his activity is kindred to mine in his 
sympatny with the interests of the working masses, his anti- 
militarism, and his recognition of the fallacies produced by 
capitalism. " 

Count Leo Tolstoy graducated from 'oscow University 
in 1851, joined the Russian army soon thereafter and while an 
officer in the army became a novelist, later accepted in the 
literary circles of St. Petersburg. He was married to a highly 
educated woman in 1862. He traveled in Germany and Italy and 
continued his writing. His most important literary works are: 

War and Peace (1865 - 1868) 
Anna Karenina (1875 - 1878) 
Resurrection (1900) 

The last two of these productions were staged in motion 
pictures in America, not lon^, since, under the assistant director- 
ship of a son of the great writer. 

Tolstoy lived the first years of his life aa an aristo- 
crat, associated with the Czarist government, but soon after writing 
Anna Karenina h e changed his philosophy of life and spent much of 
the rest of his years preaching and practicing christian ideals. 
He disposed his property and lived as a peasant, doing manual v/ork 
like his neighboring peasants. His writings from this time on were 
on christian philosphy and its application to life. This caused 
him to incur the displeasure of the high officials of tne Orthodox 
Church, and to be expelled from the church. Shortly before his 



Pa^e 12. 



death Tolstoy left hOme , wondered about as a pilgrim and died 
in poverty. However, the workers of the U.S.S.R. now idealize 
Tolstoy, whose former country-seat has become a mecca for the 
pilgrimage of peasants and others. 

Mrs. Tolstoy supported Jier husband in his literary work, 
but she, the sons and a daugnter strongly opi osed the dissolution 
of the family estate. I'Jie wife survived Toistoy by several years, 
•^'he sons and daugnter visited the United states. I'ne aaughter 
lectured in Lincoln aoout two years ago. 

Mrs. Condra and I, In company with a party of geologists 
arrived at Rosala Polyania, July 31, 1937, and were conveyed by 
autos about three miles out to the former country-swat of Leo 
Tolstoy. The estate is located at the border of the "great woods" 
and is now owned by the U.S.S.R. 

We assembled at the entrance uo tne grounds of this 
former Toistoy estate and a seventy-four year old son of Leo Tolstoy, 
became our guide and a seventy year old niece of the great author 
took charge of Mrs. Condra. Both guides spoke good English. Being 
chairman of the delegation, every courtesy was extended to me and 
to Mrs. Condra. ^r group was conducted through the grounds, museum, 
and various rooms of the mansion where Tolstoy lived, but an unex- 
pected surprise came to me when we entered the room in which the 
great author died. On the wall here was a group picture of Tolstoy and 
his family end in the group was an autographed photo of William 
Jennings Bryan. I stopped short and asked by the Bryan picture was 
placed in the family group, and received the reply: "Mr. Bryan and 
my father were close friends, they visited together here." 



Page 13. 

After passing chrougli the mansion and the museiam, we were 
conducted as a long meandering ±ine of geoloeists through a very- 
old orchard and into the great woods where is the burial place of 
the a ithor. We were silent all the way, wondering what the tomb 
might be like, but we soon came to a well beaten pata which circled 
among the big trees, and saw in the center of this circle an elevated 
rectangular spot overgrown with Labella. This is the tomb of Leo 
Tolstoy, Russia's Great Commoner, who returned thus to the earth 
from which he came. 

All hats were off now and as we crowded the circle about 
the grave, the aged son of the great author turned and looking me 
sparely in the face, seemed to say without words: "You are nov/ at 
the burial place of my father wno was a close friend and admirer of 
your friend, William Jennings Bryan." My reply was as follov/s: 

Mr. Tolstoy. The members of our ^roup are gathered here 
in mftmory and recognition of your father. We know about the success 
and high rank attained by your father and have learned also of the 
intolerance and discouragements with which he was confronted during 
his last years of life. 

We came from about fifty countries where the work of your 
father as an author and reformer is appreciated and we believe that 
his contributions to civilization must bring to you and your relatives 
the assurance that your father conveyed a rich heritage to many peopie, 

Permit me to say further, for our entire delegation, that 
we greatly appreciate the opportunity which has been afforded us to 
visit the well-preserved country-seat of Leo Tolstoy, and that we 
thank you and your fiousin for the efficient and courteous guidance 



Page 14. 

you have ^Iven us today. We are ^iad to be here. Now, speaking 
prlniariiy for my home country, the United States, you will permit 
reference to an observation which brought pleasure to me and Mrs. 
Condra as we passed through the room in which the spirit of your 
father passed to the great beyond. I refer to the presence of the 
picture of William Jennings Bryan in the Tolstoy family group. M^. 
Bryan, the author, orator, and reformer, is known as the Great 
Commoner of our country. He and your father were irt- rather close 
accord regarding philosophy, religion and social reform. 

At the close of the above statement, the neice of Leo 
Tolstoy stepped forward, plucked a handful of flowers from the 
grave of Leo Tolstoy and presented them to Mrs. Condra, who said: 

"I thank you, and will endeavor to preserve these flowers 
and carry them home to America, to be kept in memory of your kind- 
ness, and our visit to the grave of your uncie." 

Returning to the museum we were give n souvenirs made from 
the wood of old apple trees which had been ^rovm from plantings made 
by Leo Tolstoy in about 1862. Here are two of the souvenirs-- one 
for Mrs. Thomas Allen and one for her brother, Charles W. Bryan. 

Let me say in conclusion that William Jennings Bryan had a 
world-wide acquaintance among political, social, and religious leaders. 
Like Tolstoy, he was for peace and against war, and became more deeply 
interested in religion and charity during the later years of his life. 
He had the continued encouragement and support of a good and talented 
wife, and of a brother, sister, brother-in-law and many others. Yet he 
remained the patrlarchial head of the Nebraska branch of the Bryan 
family the achievements of which are outstanding and should be made a 
matter of historic record. 



LIBRPRY OF CONGRESS 

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